Diamondbacks stay locked in to beat Orioles after ejections, lengthy review

PHOENIX — The final three innings of the Arizona Diamondbacks’ 4-3 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday became quite wacky, with two ejections, a five-minute review and a run-saving pickle.

Amid the drama, the Diamondbacks snapped a three-game losing streak. Merrill Kelly delivered a quality start before getting ejected alongside manager Torey Lovullo, and the lineup produced just enough scoring for a dramatic win at Chase Field. 

“A lot happened today, but inside of it we played a pretty good baseball game,” Lovullo said. “You have to fight to win when you’re on a little bit of a losing streak, it’s no fun. But I was proud of the way the guys fought today and we won a huge game.”

The Diamondbacks quickly fell behind again and had to claw back.

Kelly allowed two runs in the first inning after loading the bases with a hit-by-pitch. A Cedric Mullins single to right gave Baltimore the early 2-0 lead.

Kelly held Baltimore there with an inning-ending double play, but Arizona’s streak of allowing runs in the first inning extended to six games.

The D-backs got one back in the bottom half with the bases loaded and nobody out. Josh Naylor hit into a run-scoring double play, but the Diamondbacks were held to one despite a golden opportunity.

Arizona tied the game in the third on a Corbin Carroll solo shot — his fourth home run of the year — and took the lead in the fifth. Naylor found some redemption with a go-ahead, two-run double ripped into the right-field corner off Orioles starter Charlie Morton. That proved to be the game-winner.

Meanwhile, Kelly found a groove.

He retired 12 straight Orioles hitters, a streak ended by an Eugenio Suarez fielding error. He exited the game with two runners on and nobody out in the seventh inning.

His outing concluded on an odd note.

Merrill Kelly, Torey Lovullo comment on ejections

Kelly seemed to strike out Orioles hitter Tyler O’Neill on a check swing, but first base umpire and crew chief Laz Diaz said O’Neill did not go around. Kelly walked the batter to end his night, and quickly emotions flared.

Kelly was tossed while walking off the field after the D-backs turned to the bullpen.

“ I’m not gonna say too much about it,” Kelly said. “I think the video … everyone’s seen it. I’m just gonna let it speak for itself. I don’t think there’s really anything else to say. I said my piece on the field and I’ll kind of leave it at that.

“ It’s funny, both times I’ve gotten thrown out has been when I’m leaving the game,” Kelly added. “I don’t really see the point from the umpires to do that, I’m already gonna leave the game.”

We got some spicy action between Laz Diaz and DBacks manager Torey Lovullo 👀 pic.twitter.com/pSf768glVh

— Dillard Barnhart (@BarnHasSpoken2) April 9, 2025

Lovullo raced over from the mound to stick up for his player and was swiftly ejected, as well. Lovullo passionately argued in Diaz’s face as the crowd chanted “Torey, Torey.”

“I felt like I was gonna try to protect the players,” Lovullo said. “I didn’t want anybody to get thrown out of the game. That’s not their job. My job is to protect them.

“When I got to the pitching mound, I asked, is everybody still in this game? I saw Naylor was doing something, but he was trying to be the peacemaker. I knew that Merrill was extremely hot. I could tell by the look on his face that he wasn’t done.

“I’m giving instructions to the infielders and the catcher for what could be happening. … By that time, Merrill had said something. I didn’t know if he got thrown out of the game, but at that point, I felt like I had enough, Merrill had enough, it was time for us to both go.”

Torey Lovullo explains his confrontation with Laz Diaz in the seventh inning. pic.twitter.com/5eZaLDKYol

— Arizona Sports (@AZSports) April 9, 2025

Lovullo joked that both times Kelly has been ejected from a game, he was right there with him. They were both tossed in a 2023 game in Oakland.

Kelly finished with 6.0 innings and three earned runs in a bounce-back performance from his Yankee Stadium dud.

“Just felt more like myself,” Kelly said. “I think I got in a little bit of a robotic pattern during New York.”

Merrill Kelly said he's letting the replay do the talking when it comes to Tyler O'Neill's check swing.

"I said my piece on the field." pic.twitter.com/RehzANNfhg

— Arizona Sports (@AZSports) April 9, 2025

And then Tuesday’s seventh inning got even more bizarre.

With the bases loaded and one out, Jackson Holliday hit a low liner to left field off reliever Shelby Miller.

Lourdes Gurriel Jr. made a sliding catch and came up firing, chucking the ball all the way to the backstop. He gave a “what have I done?” look.

A run scored on the play, but O’Neill on second base never tagged up, evidently thinking Gurriel did not make the highlight catch.

The Diamondbacks finished the inning-ending double play, and the Orioles challenged. Orioles manager Brandon Hyde explained no call was made on the field, which put his runners in a tough spot.

After a lengthy review process, the batter was ruled out, O’Neill was ruled out and the one run upheld. At the seventh-inning stretch, Arizona led 4-3.

Absolute chaos unfolded on this play after Lourdes Gurriel Jr. LAUNCHED this throw to the backstop pic.twitter.com/2YL6WPjxCB

— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) April 9, 2025

The Orioles threatened to score in the eighth against A.J. Puk, as Adley Rutschman singled with one out. Pinch runner Jorge Mateo stole both second and third base. Ryan Mountcastle hit a tapper back to Puk, who caught Mateo in a rundown, executed perfectly. Arizona recorded the out and escaped with the lead intact.

Justin Martinez then shut the door to pick up the save in the ninth inning.

Diamondbacks next game

The D-backs and Orioles wrap up the three-game set with a rubber match on Wednesday at 12:40 p.m.

Brandon Pfaadt will start for Arizona against Baltimore right-hander Dean Kremer.

Catch the game on 98.7 and the Arizona Sports app. 

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